Chapter II: First Period of Humanism

Importance of the Revival of Learning -- Mediæval Romance -- The
Legend of Faustus -- Its Value for the Renaissance -- The Devotion of
Italy to Study -- Italian Predisposition for this Labour --
Scholarship in the Dark Ages -- Double Attitude assumed by the Church
-- Piety for Virgil -- Meagre Acquaintance with the Latin Classics --
No Greek Learning -- The Spiritual Conditions of the Middle Ages
adverse to Pure Literature -- Italy no Exception to the rest of Europe
-- Dante and Petrarch -- Definition of Humanism -- Petrarch's
Conception of it -- His Æsthetical Temperament -- His Cult for Cicero,
Zeal in Collecting Manuscripts, Sense of the Importance of Greek
Studies -- Warfare against Pedantry and Superstition -- Ideal of
Poetry and Rhetoric -- Critique of Jurists and Schoolmen -- S.
Augustine -- Petrarch's Vanity -- Thirst for Fame -- Discord between
his Life and his Profession -- His Literary Temperament -- Visionary
Patriotism -- His Influence -- His Successors -- Boccaccio and Greek
Studies -- Translation of Homer -- Philosophy of Literature --
Sensuousness of Boccaccio's Inspiration -- Giovanni da Ravenna -- The
Wandering Professor -- His Pupils in Latin Scholarship -- Luigi
Marsigli -- The Convent of S. Spirito -- Humanism in Politics --
Coluccio de' Salutati -- Gasparino da Barzizza -- Improved Style in
Letter-writing -- Revival of Greek Learning -- Manuel Chrysoloras --
His Pupils -- Lionardo Bruni -- Value of Greek for the Renaissance 37